Our Christmas Present

We love our new yard, but have one section that has been driving us crazy:

With little kids hot tubs and ponds cause stress. So, we asked the seller to sell the hot tub and empty the pond. She did. What she left was a headache. The kids loved throwing things into the empty pond, and Avery loved climbing onto the deck and peering over the deep hole, which eventually filled to the brim with water once winter came. Anyway, we finally hired someone to remove the pond and deck and now we have a clean slate.

Here is a preview of what is to come:

Three new 4' x 6' raised garden beds made out of railroad ties. A decomposed granite walkway between and below the beds. Existing trees trimmed, one removed. A new large palm in the corner. New rockwork on the wall which will be extended to the fence. New flowering plants where the pond was. I'm so excited! I think the girls and I will love working in the garden together. Now we need to decide what to plant.